Automated geophysical sensor deployment apparatus and method

Abstract

A geophysical sensor deployment apparatus designed to provide improved coupling between the sensor and the ground, includes a ram extendible through a ram guide. The guide has an opening for insertion of a geophysical sensor. The ram has a ground displacing bit at a movable end thereof. The ram and the guide are mounted to a frame. The mounting has a pivot and a plurality of angularly separated extension mechanisms disposed between the ram and guide and the frame whereby an elevation and an orientation of the ram and the guide are controllable by selective extension of each of the plurality of extension mechanisms.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A geophysical sensor deployment apparatus, comprising:
 a ram extensible through a ram guide, the ram guide having an opening for insertion of a geophysical sensor, the ram having a ground displacing bit at a movable end thereof, the ground displacing bit comprising a same, non-zero exterior taper angle as an exterior taper angle of a ground contact portion of the geophysical sensor, the bit having dimensions smaller than the ground contact portion at corresponding longitudinal positions along each of the ground contact portion and the bit, the ground displacing bit having a substantially round and smooth exterior surface; and 
 wherein the ram and the guide are mounted to a frame, the mounting having a pivot and a plurality of angularly separated extension mechanisms disposed between the ram and ram guide and the frame whereby an elevation and an orientation of the ram and the ram guide are controllable by selective extension of each of the plurality of extension mechanisms. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ground displacing bit is configured to rotate when the ram is extended or retracted. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a tilt sensor in signal communication with a processor, the processor configured to transmit control signals to each of the extension mechanisms to cause a measured tilt to correspond to a predetermined orientation of the ram and guide. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a geodetic position signal receiver in signal communication with the processor, whereby a geodetic position of operation of the ram for deployment of a geophysical sensor is determinable. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising instructions programmed into the processor to automatically operate the ram at predetermined geodetic positions. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a vehicle to which the frame is mounted. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a control unit having instructions programmed thereon to operate the vehicle to automatically move to each of a plurality of selected geodetic positions, stop at each of the plurality of selected geodetic positions and operate the ram at each of plurality of selected geodetic positions. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ram and the plurality of extension mechanisms comprise hydraulic cylinders and rams. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a storage chamber for storing a plurality of sensors or sensor nodes, a staging ram disposed to one side of the storage chamber and a track disposed proximate the storage chamber and shaped to discharge a sensor or sensor node into the ram guide when the staging ram is extended through an opening in the storage chamber. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the storage chamber comprises a helical carousel. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ram comprises a power control device operably coupled thereto, the power control device operable to cause the ram to exert more force when urging the ground penetrating bit into surface soil to create a hole than a force exerted by the ram when displacing a sensor or sensor node into the created hole.